I got the bug this morning to put up a photo of our cat and three dogs. It just came to me, so here it is.
When we got Zip, our barn cat, last year, we knew he wouldn’t live in the farmhouse.. We didn’t want to, and neither did he.
We got him to get rid of our rats and mice in the barn; our beloved barn cats, Minnie and Flow, died around the same time.
They both lived outside, as barn cats do – you can’t kill rats in the living room – and we got them a heated barn cat house for the barn and the basement when the snow got heavy, or it got too cold. At the time, I didn’t realize that Zip was adopting me, it was the other way around.
When Zip came, we connected it up for him, as he wanted. Since then, and to our knowledge, Zip has never slept there.
Sometimes, he sleeps in the tool shed, outdoors in the base of the apple tree, on the front porch, sometimes up in the hay and sometimes in the Pole Barn with the sheep and donkeys.
He is a barn cat, so he sleeps wherever he wants. Yesterday, he slept beside the heated barn cat in a former dog bed.
Zip has his own mind, as many cats do, and he sleeps wherever he wants, as it should be. I admit it: I love this cat.
Zinnia is a Lab, through and through. She loves to hang out with me in my study, but she is never happier than when she is splashing through mud or eating some disgusting death thing. I love this photo Maria took of her out in the woods where she can do what Labs love to do – smell awful things, eat appalling things, and keep close to their humans. Dogs have been emotionalized nearly to death; I love letting them be dogs and watching them be dogs. Fate, Bud, and Zinnia had that chance; Zip came to it naturally. He is no furbabie.
We have learned that Fate has a genetically altered eye. Because of this, she can’t herd the sheep—they ignore her—but she can chase them like a faithful border collie. We are delighted with her, and she is happy as a dog. She is unique, as is her master, Maria.
Bud came to us as a dying rescue dog; he has recovered, and we immensely love him. He is a fiercely conscious working dog and ratter. He patrols the backyard, religiously hunting chipmunks, moles, rats, frogs, mice, and anything that presumes to enter our property. He also lives the love of a dog, bred into the Boston Terrier. He also loves lying in the sun.
My motto is to let dogs be dogs. Cats too,
I’m curious as to why Fate’s “genetically altered eye” prevents her from herding sheep. Thanks
Border collies control sheep with their eyes. The sheep think they are wolves and are quick to obey them. A genetic defect caused one of her eyes to turn blue. It’s called Heterochromia: Heterochromia is caused by a lack of the pigment melanin in all or part of one eye. In dogs with heterochromia, the lack of melanin causes one of their eyes to appear blue or bluish-white. Some herding dogs have blue eyes, but it doesn’t look like Fate’s.
A border collie with the right genes terrorizes the sheep, and the dog can direct their movement. Fate learned right away (before me) that the sheep weren’t impressed. But she has all of the other border collie genies, so she loves to circle them as if she had some power over them. Good for her. Hope this helps.
friendly proofreading feedback (no need to publish)
Think you meant to say ” a photo of our cat and three dogs” (not dots) and “you can’t kill rats in the living room” (not cats) and “and we got them a heated cat house” (not barn cat)
Not meaning to be critical in any way.
Thanks, Satya; I don’t have time to proof all that I read, and I also have Dyslexia, so I have new software that scams and corrects them, as it did today. I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need any more proofreading and corrections. Thanks for trying to help, but I prefer to take care of it myself. Some mistakes will get by, and I’m okay with that. I don’t need to be told; I say this with appreciation. My new software, designed for Dyslexics, is doing a good job. I want to spend my time writing, not proofreading. As long as the meaning of the peace is clear, I’m’ good.
LOL, will not comment about Jack’s comment. (just because, LOL) ….but loved your reply! . But…..I WAS already going to comment as Sandy did in regards to Fate’s *genetically altered* eye. I know heterochromia is common in both border collies and Aussies (not exclusively, but primarily) ……. I do not believe it impairs *their* vision at all……but perhaps the sheep themselves interpret this as something not to be taken seriously in regards to herding? So…….the way that heterochromia is percieved by other animals? This is an interesting topic……..in my opinion. Living on a large property and encountering many dogs almost daily who herd (mainly) cattle…… interestingly….only one dog has heterochromia…….the other herding dogs do not……..so I plan to research this on my end also…speaking with the cattle ranchers and getting their *take* on heterochromia given their experience. Love that you often broach topics that want to make me delve further into learning about!
Susan M
It does not impair their vision at all; it does keep the sheep from recognizing them as a threat.
That’s all I know or need to know.
thank you for that! I’m not saying I’m going to *beat a dead horse* about it…..but I was merely curious! Thanks for clearing things up 🙂
Susan M
It was a good question.we don’t beat dead horses around here! Poor Jack would have a heart attack…:) That vet talk makes me cringe, but there is nothing wrong with your question..
Jon. I am curious about Ann the conversations that appear in comments. How is it they are already present on the same day an article is published?
Karen, many people – thousands – receive the blog the day after is is published; if you want the blog mailed to you, you sign up at the bottom of the day’s blog, and you get it delivered free the next morning. So they see it a day after lots of people see it. The others get it in real-time.
What is wrong with people anyway? If you are going to read something just to try to find fault and criticize why bother,,? That’s a symptom of what’s wrong with the world
I guess just let the haters hate and ignore them. Don’t give them the dignity of a reply. Talking to you jack
I’m in a happy place, Rose; he’s no bother. I post messages like that to show what a mess social media is. It’s the world we live in. I don’t wallow in it, but I don’t want to pretend it doesn’t exist. Have a beautiful holiday.
How I absolutely love receiving your daily entries and photos. BUT when I first started, I remembered a comment you made that your “blogs” were YOUR thoughts and opinions – a diarized version of your daily life.
You are offering “outsiders” your life in a way, and (I have noticed) opened up your home to so many. I love it so much.
I was told as a child (which I have far exceeded), that if you cannot say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
Life is too short for those who are “bigots”. There is so much hate going on. It’s about time people behaved with dignity, love, acceptance, tolerance and happiness instead of criticizing. What a sad life Jack and those like him must have.
A very merry Christmas and a wonderful year to you, Maria and all your beautiful animals and birds.
From Down and Under.
Thanks, Sandra; the blog is my thoughts and writing, but I also want some real life to pop in, and world is more complicated than when I started the blog. I like where the blog is, and sharing some slices of the actual work is essential. Thanks so much for following along. I’ve never been happier or busier.